Rooms

History and Heritage
The Old Rectory was built in 1802 and is of stone with a slate roof and a parapet moulded cornice. The south elevation has flanking giant pilasters and sash windows which have flat voussoir heads. The property is three storey and the plot backs onto the churchyard of the 11th century medieval parish church of St Michael. The property is mentioned in Pevsner’s series of books on the Buildings of England and retains the symmetrical façade, high ceilings, deep coving, fireplaces, and the tall sash windows, with the original working shutters, typical of the Georgian period.

Ground Floor
A shallow stone porch with a pediment shelters the panelled double front door which has flanking glazed panels. The entrance hall has a tiled floor, deep skirting, a dado railand stairs to the first floor with under stair storage. The cloakroom has a feature blue glass basin, a WC and a window to the rear.

Reception Rooms
Both the reception rooms have tall sash windows, with original wooden shutters, overlooking the south facing garden, and both rooms have deep skirting and coving, and a central beam on the ceiling. The drawing room has ornate ceiling roses and a Highgrove marble fireplace with a functioning open grate while the dining room has a Corbel marble fireplace housing a log burning stove. The dining room has an engineered oak floor and the drawing room is carpeted.

Kitchen/Breakfast Room
The dual aspect open plan kitchen/breakfast room measures over 32ft. long including a vestibule area with a walk-in coats’ cupboard with fitted hooks and shelves. The bespoke kitchen is by Peter Jones and has Pear wood base and wall units with granite work surfaces incorporating a double Belfast sink under a window overlooking the patio in the garden. There is a Stoves range cooker which has a seven ring gas hob, two electric ovens and an extractor fan over. Other integrated appliances include a coffee machine, and a combination oven/microwave, and there is space for an American style fridge/freezer. The breakfast area has display alcoves with fitted cupboards and wine storage, and space for drinks fridges. There is space for a table to seat four.

Utility Room
The adjoining utility room has a door to the patio, further units, a Belfast sink and space for two appliances. There is also a large walk-in store which houses one of the two boilers for the property.

First Floor
The galleried landing is used as a reading area and has a range of built-in storage and bookshelves, and a window seat with views of the church to the rear. The first floor bathroom has a window with shutters and views of the church. There is a bath with a shower over, twin vanity washbasins, a WC and an airing cupboard.

Master Bedroom Suite
The master bedroom has a tall sash window, with original shutters, overlooking the south facing garden. The en suite shower room has a feature stained glass window, a shower cubicle, a vanity washbasin and a WC. The other double bedroom on the first floor is currently used as a dressing room and is fitted with a range of hanging rails and pull out storage.

Other Bedrooms and Bathroom
There are four further bedrooms on the second floor. One is currently used as a study and has exposed beams and timbers, a window overlooking the drive and a part vaulted ceiling with a Velux window with views of the church. The other three bedrooms all have views over the garden and one has a feature fireplace. The second floor bathroom has a freestanding roll top bath, a washbasin and a WC.

Gardens and Grounds
A stone pillared entrance with electric gates leads to a private gravel drive which provides parking for up to five cars in addition to the detached single garage which has an up and over door. There is a timber garden shed behind the garage. The private walled gardens are a particular feature of the property. The main area of garden faces south and has a paved terrace spanning the house, and the rest is mainly lawned with established shrub and flower beds and mature trees interspersed, including a fig tree. Several varieties of jasmine climb up the side wall of the house and there is also a passion flower, a wisteria trained over an old tree stump and another stump supporting two varieties of clematis. There is seating around some of the trees as well as a timber gazebo which has fitted bench seating. A gate leads to a separate area of garden which has lapsed planning consent to build a single storey dwelling.

Garden cont'd
There is an extensive paved terrace at the rear of the house with ample space for outside dining and seating areas. The paving continues around the side of the house where there is a rockery, berberris and fire thorn bushes on the boundary with the church, and a herb bed with retaining walls constructed from old telegraph poles.

Situation and Schooling
The village of Lavendon has a primary school, pre school and nursery, a shop and Post Office, a village hall and the Green Man and The Horseshoe pubs. Further amenities and catchment schooling are available in the Georgian market town of Olney which is approximately 3 miles away. For a wider range of amenities, the property is 16 minutes’ drive from Bedford which has the Harpur Trust independent schools and rail services to St Pancras International in 43 minutes. Milton Keynes is only 25 minutes’ drive and has rail services to Euston in 33 minutes, and one of Europe’s largest covered shopping centres as well as a theatre, cinemas, indoor skiing and other attractions.

Property information from this agent

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